A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

A feeble old man refuses offered alms and instead asks to serve the anxious Pea Emperor. His employer’s compassion secures the relationship. Acting as steward, he arranges a convincing imperial journey through the borrowed estates and asks to sleep in a corner of the master’s chamber. He instructs him not to answer any call, whatever the noise.

During the night he takes every response himself, answering the nine dragons’ numbered questions and ordering each to burst. The next morning he has vanished, and the nine bodies confirm the outcome. A sweet voice tells the rescued man that compassion for the poor man saved him and urges continued charity. The text does not identify the vanished steward as God, an angel or one of the dragons, and it does not prove that the final disembodied voice is the same speaker. His role is kept as an unidentified extraordinary helper.

Refuses alms but accepts serviceProtects master’s silenceAnswers nine riddlesOrders dragons to burstVanishes by morning
01

Origins & earliest records

Roumanian Fairy Tales, collected by Mite Kremnitz, adapted and arranged by J. M. Percival (New York: Henry Holt, 1885), The Pea Emperor, pp. 113–120.

02

Records & interpretation

Complete selected English narrative through nine corpses and the charitable concluding voice. Preface assigns tale 12 to P. Ispirescu.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Roumanian Fairy Tales: The Pea Emperor, pp. 113–120

    Mite Kremnitz, collector; J. M. Percival, adapter and arranger · 1885

    Preface assigns tale 12 to P. Ispirescu. Complete selected English adaptation; original Romanian not collated.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Primary historical English adaptationKremnitz/Percival 1885: The Pea EmperorResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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